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Golden Rule Essay

Below is an essay on "Golden Rule" from Anti Essays, your source for research papers, essays, and term paper examples.

THE GOLDEN RULE ESSAY
“Treat others how you want to be treated” is one of the most recognized phrases known as the golden rule. It is found in the scriptures of nearly every religion. It is often regarded as the most direct and general principle of ethics. An assumption can be made that morals derive from the golden rule approach. If everyone one would take the golden rule into consideration it would better the society as a whole. Unlike much western ethics, the Golden Rule does not emphasize claims to moral autonomy. Should Bill Gates give his money to the starving Ethiopians? The Golden Rule approach implies that he should try to think himself into the position of a starving Ethiopian, and ask whether he would want money or food in those circumstances. But, assuming he cannot otherwise understand the issue .Why not just asks the Ethiopians?
In the Golden Rule approach, they have nothing to say. It is the person who acts or refrains from an act, who must use the Golden Rule. Applying the Rule requires their 'skill' in transferring their viewpoint. They are center-stage, in the Golden Rule approach. The object of the action does not need to think or speak, and no dialogue takes place. A strict Golden Rule ethic would probably forbid asking the other person's opinion, since that might be distorted by temporary circumstances. And the Golden Rule is used to assess cases of persons who cannot speak their will, coma patients for instance. What would a society be like, where everyone takes ethical decisions, on the assumption that other people have as much to say as a coma patient? Would that be the mild-mannered 'community' type society, as suggested by supporters of the Golden Rule? I doubt it.
I can’t really think of a time when the Golden Rule has failed me. I have bad days like everyone else, but I don’t affiliate them with the Golden Rule. Just because I’m nice to someone doesn’t mean that they have to be nice to me, yes it’s nice but it’s not something I...